Dairy breakfast invites locals to learn about farms, eat

Katie Keizer feeds cows at the family dairy farm near Delavan. The Keizers are hosting farm tours as part of the Walworth County Dairy Breakfast. The breakfast will be held at the Walworth County Fairgrounds, but free bus rides are available to and from the Keizer farm.

IF YOU GO

What: Walworth County Dairy Breakfast

When: Serving from 6-10:30 a.m. Saturday with some activities lasting until noon.

ELKHORN—The 38th annual Walworth County Dairy Breakfast will feature more that food.

The event at the Walworth County Fairgrounds will include a craft fair, exhibits, a small animal display, entertainment, a local farm tour.

Rick and Marleen Adams, leaders of Walworth County Farm Bureau dairy committee, said the breakfast brings agriculture and the consumer together.

“A lot of people don't know how farms operate anymore,” Rick said.

The event will have several contests, including hay bale tossing and milk chugging.

Those attending can visit a local farm to understand how a large dairy operation is run.

Local farms originally hosted the event, but a few years ago it was moved to the fairgrounds for safety and convenience.

“Once we got to the fairgrounds, we realized it was nice to have electricity, parking, paved lots and buildings,” Rick said. “We do like the convenience of having it at the fairgrounds; everyone knows where it is.”

This year's host family is the Keizer Family Farm, located near Delavan. The Keizers have hosted the event on their farm three times before, including in 1981, one year after purchasing the farm and building the barn and milking parlor.

Today Jack Keizer and three of his sons—Henry, Jack Jr. and David—own and operate the farm.

“We're happy to do it,” David said. “We think it's great for the dairy industry to be able to promote our product and actually show people what goes on at the farm.”

“It always surprises people just how much milk these cows give and how much they eat,” David said. “We average about 75 pounds of milk per cow because we only milk twice a day.”

The cows eat anywhere from 80 to 100 pounds of feed per day, depending on its moisture, he said.

“It's important for people to visit the farm because food doesn't truly come from the grocery store,” Rick said. “Everyone should connect with and see where the food is really made.”